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British lutenist, guitarist, and theorbist
Toby Carr is a versatile figure who performs as a soloist, continuo player, accompanist, and chamber musician. He is also an important educator.
Carr grew up in England's Hertfordshire region. He started out as a guitarist, studying classical guitar at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London with
Graham Anthony Devine. He also took classes with
David Miller, who introduced him to lutes and early guitars, and to the riches of Renaissance and Baroque music for plucked strings more generally.
Carr went on for further studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where his principal teachers were Bob Brightmore in classical guitar and
William Carter in historical performace.
Carr continued on with the school's MPerf performance degree, specializing in historical performance and graduating in 2015.
Carr continues to play classical guitar in music of various periods, but he has specialized in the Renaissance and Baroque, playing in particular music of 17th century England and Italy on guitar, lute, and theorbo.
Carr has performed in a great variety of groups and situations. He has appeared with leading historical performance ensembles including the
Academy of Ancient Music, the
English Concert,
La Nuova Musica, and
Dunedin Consort, as well as modern orchestras and opera companies including the
Royal Ballet, the
London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the English Touring Opera.
Carr has also been active as a performer at the Handel & Hendrix Museum in London, which features two nearby houses once inhabited by
George Frederick Handel and
Jimi Hendrix. He returned to his alma mater, the Guildhall School of Music & Dance, as a professor.
Carr is in demand as an accompanist, backing such singers as
Emma Kirkby, Alexander Chance, and
Helen Charlston. With the latter he was heard on the 2022 album
Battle Cry: She Speaks. ~ James Manheim